ELEVEN
Spring was once again upon them, Mary had delivered a healthy baby boy on the ninth of February, 1866. Victor welcomed his little brother with dubious cheer. Victor had survived the near freezing with little injury. Part of his little toe came off, but otherwise he was hale and hearty. Ida was thrilled about the arrival of her new brother; she begged her mother to let her hold him.
Ida even insisted on naming the baby, wanting to name him Henry Theodore William John Anderson. Mary and Henry settled on Theodore William. They called him Lil Theo for short, which pleased big Theo very much. Victor hung back and watch all the to do with Lil Theo. Soon his curiosity won out and he was touching the infant with inquisitive fingers and placing kisses on the fragile head.
Liza took care of the children while everyone was out in the field. Mary went back up to the main house to work and to tend to John. He was dying and hovered between wakefulness and death. Theo was saddened by his father’s impending death, but he knew his father had lived a long life and would soon be with his wife, sons and daughter.
John Anderson passed quietly in the night, his old body worn from years of hard work and hard times. Victoria was there to meet him, along with his sons and Megan. It was a joyous reunion, and he was young once more, no longer blind. His withered shell left behind, no longer needed, nor wanted.
Theo laid his father’s body to rest beside his mother and sister. Everyone passed by, throwing clods of earth and flowers into the open grave. It was a day of sadness, but food was plentiful and voices raised to the heavens in joyous praise. Theo held Rachel and Drake ran back and forth, throwing handfuls of dirt into the grave. Victor, not to be out done, also lent his efforts as well.
As summer waned, Patina and Mary went out to find honey. Patina had a favorite tree that she frequented over the years. Each held a bucket with a gauzy cloth over top, Patina also carried a smoldering pine torch. It was tricky business stealing honey from the ever-watchful bees. It was late afternoon and they bees droned lazily around the drooping flowers. The time was just right for gathering honey. Patina hiked up her skirt and climbed the tree. Mary handed her the smoking torch and Patina held the smoking branch up beneath the hive. She threw the smoking branch down and Mary handed up a bucket. Straddling the large branch, Patina slowly, snaked a hand into the large opening of the hive. Just as slowly, her hand emerged with golden sweet honey and comb. Grinning down at Mary, she put her hand back into the tree. When the bucket was filled, she gingerly handed the bucket down to Mary.
Taking the second bucket, Patina filled it as well, pausing from time to time to lick her arm. The bees hovered around her but didn’t sting or attack. Mary was amazed by Patina’s ability to rob the bees without being stung. Her mouth watered at the thought of the sweet stuff. She set both buckets with the material covering them on the ground and helped Patina down from the tree. They both licked Patina’s arm, giggling as they cleaned the honey off.
The women walked back to the farm, chatting along the way. Patina spotted a wild blackberry bush and ran over to it. Pulling up her apron, she started plucking the ripe black berries from the bush. Many of the berries ended up in her mouth. She grinned at Mary; her teeth dark purplish from the juice. Mary laughed and helped pluck the berries from the bush. Laughing and plunging their hands into the bush, they heard the rattling too late. Patina screamed, pulling back her hand, two distinct puncture wounds on her hand. Both women were stunned as they looked down at Patina’s rapidly swelling hand. Hearing the rattling again, both women jumped back, their screams mingling. The horrible realization dawning, that Patina had been bit by a rattler.
Mary forcefully pulled Patina with her, taking off her scarf as she did so. Both women walked fast, fear skittering across Mary, for Patina’s stride started to waver as Mary tied her scarf above the elbow, unsure of what more to do. They should have known better, snakes often hid in the berry bushes, laying in wait for the foolish rabbits that came to eat. Mary berated herself fiercely, why couldn’t they have just taken the honey home? Mary screamed loudly, calling for help as they made their way to the house. Tall Tom came running and picked Patina up in his arms.
Rushing up the steps to the porch, Mary called for Liza or Cookie. Seeing Ida, she sent daughter to find her father. Ida was off like a shot, her feet eating up the ground. Cookie came in and saw Patina’s swollen hand and arm.
“Lawd have mercy child, what has you done?” Cookie shouted; fear shimmered across her face. Tom took Patina to a chair and sat her down. Henry ran into the main house in time to hear Patina’s cry of pain when Cookie touched her hand. Liza came into the house and saw Patina’s swollen and discolored hand. Sucking in her breath, Liza ran back to her cabin, to retrieve her herbs, yelling for Cookie to get a basin of hot water.
Theo walked into a mad house, children running around crying and the adults shouting. Patina was sitting in a chair, her face un-naturally pale. Rushing to her, he was horrified to see her arm and hand swollen and an angry red and purple. Her breath was coming in short pants, sweat beading on
